Well, well, I am far from blaming him for writing for the class of readers he finds most in sympathy with him. And, personally, I have no reason to bear your paper any ill-will, Mr. Hovstad. HOVSTAD. No, I should think not. BURGOMASTER. One may say, on the whole, that a fine spirit of mutual tolerance prevails in our town—an excellent public spirit. And that is because we have a great common interest to hold us together—an interest in which all right-minded citizens are equally concerned—— HOVSTAD. Yes—the Baths. BURGOMASTER. Just so. We have our magnificent new Baths. Mark my words! The whole life of the town will centre around the Baths, Mr. Hovstad. There can be no doubt of it! MRS. STOCKMANN. That is just what Thomas says. BURGOMASTER. How marvellously the place has developed, even in this couple of years! Money has come into circulation, and brought life and movement with it. Houses and ground-rents rise in value every day. HOVSTAD. And there are fewer people out of work. BURGOMASTER. That is true. There is a gratifying diminution in the burden imposed on the well-to-do classes by the poor-rates; and they will be still further lightened if only we have a really good summer this year—a rush of visitors—plenty of invalids, to give the Baths a reputation. HOVSTAD. I hear there is every prospect of that. BURGOMASTER. Things look most promising. Inquiries about apartments and so forth keep on pouring in. HOVSTAD. Then the Doctor’s paper will come in very opportunely. BURGOMASTER. Has he been writing again? HOVSTAD. This is a thing he wrote in the winter; enlarging on the virtues of the Baths, and on the excellent sanitary conditions of the town. But at that time I held it over. BURGOMASTER. Ah—I suppose there was something not quite judicious about it? HOVSTAD. Not at all. But I thought it better to keep it till the spring, when people are beginning to look about them, and think of their summer quarters—— BURGOMASTER. You were right, quite right, Mr. Hovstad. MRS. STOCKMANN. Yes, Thomas is really indefatigable where the Baths are concerned. BURGOMASTER. It is his duty as one of the staff. HOVSTAD. And of course he was really their creator. BURGOMASTER. Was he? Indeed! I gather that certain persons are of that opinion. But I should have thought that I, too, had a modest share in that undertaking.